Chapter One
Taani and Mauli stepped out of the swanky car that Mauli's dad had gifted to them as a birthday present.
It was their first day in college. Mauli was the daughter of a wealthy police commissioner while Taani was the daughter of an ordinary sweet shop owner. Yet, they had been best friends ever since they first met in nursery. Taani never felt jealous of Mauli's social status, and Mauli never looked down upon hers.
In true sense, Taani's real bestest friend was Anurag, the son of Shekhar Ganguly, master of the publication empire in Kolkatta. But after a huge argument between their familes, Anu went abroad, and Taani remained at home, pining away for him.
But now all those sad memories were forgotten. She was determined to make a new life for herself in Kolkatta.
Mauli was a carefree-easy going girl. Sometimes she did not get why Taani was so serious sometimes, and she loved teasing him. If Taani was Rosalind, Mauli was Celia.
The Tagore College of Arts was famous for its music program. While Mauli just wanted to procure a degree so that her parents would stop bothering her about her education, Taani was determined to ace the program and get a chance to be a part of the famous college concert arranged for the general public. She knew her classical music would be booed in response to the hip music her classmates would play, she knew that her voice would take her many miles.
"I'm so excited Mauli," Taani gushed, "I have got this scholarship with a lot of difficulty."
"Yeah, so just chill okay?" Mauli quipped. "There must be something special about you if from 10,000 applications the one they finally selected was yours."
"I wish Onu was here," Taani remarked sadly. Mauli rolled her eyes and Taani laughed. "But he's gone now, so I can't do anything. But the years we spend here will be the best of our life. Especially for you Mauli," said Taani, winking and nudging her in the arm.
Mauli blushed. It was a well-known fact that Taani's brother Taposh was the best Sociology professor in the whole of Kolkatta. And it was a lesser-known fact that Mauli was crazily in love with him, despite the age difference. Taani did not mind if Mauli would live in her house someday-as a permanent resident.
As they walked along, suddenly, a football narrowly missed Taani's dress. Taani angrily looked up as a handsome looking guy walked up to her.
"Give the ball," he said.
"Take it yourself," she said sharply, and straightening her salwar kameez she walked ahead.
"Your friend has attitude," the guy said.
"So do you, loser!" Taani remarked.
"Loser huh?" said the guy, "Well fine, let's see!"
And saying that he left the two girls alone. Taani tugged on Mauli's arm, furious. How dare he talk to her like that?
Meanwhile, the guy went to a long BMW waiting outside the gates of the college.
Anurag Ganguly narrowed his eyes. "Robby," he said, "if you're done playing football and hanging around with your good-for nothing friends, can we go home?"
"Whatever brother," the guy said, and Anurag revved away, unaware that his brother had just fought with his best friend.